CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Chicago Cubs open a key three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. Monday at Busch Stadium III. The Cubs (59-46) hold a six-game lead over the Cardinals (53-52) in the National League Central. Game-time temperature is forecast at 95 degrees with clouds. Chicago is coming off a 7-8 loss Sunday at Pittsburgh. Reliever Aaron Civale worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts. Civale has been sharp in his last two outings, posting a 0.00 ERA over 4 1/3 innings. He threw 2 1/3 scoreless frames in a win against Detroit on July 21. St. Louis dropped a 5-3, 10-inning decision to Cincinnati on Sunday. Right-hander Kyle Leahy was the standout, pitching six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. Leahy has been dominant against Chicago this season, firing five scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a 3-0 win July 4 at Wrigley Field. Over his last four starts, the right-hander has a 1.80 ERA. The Cardinals won the most recent meeting between the teams, taking two of three in Chicago from July 3-5. St. Louis outscored the Cubs 24-7 in that series, including a 17-1 rout July 3. The teams split a six-game season series earlier, with Chicago winning 6-1 on May 30 and St. Louis winning 5-1 on May 31. Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki homered and drove in two runs Sunday. Reliever Trent Thornton added a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Leahy’s recent outings include a win July 10 against Atlanta (3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 K) and a loss July 20 at the Los Angeles Angels (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K). The Cubs are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Cardinals are 3-7 over the same stretch. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Chicago victory. After Monday’s game, the teams play the final two games of the series Tuesday and Wednesday before Chicago hosts the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and St. Louis travels to Toronto and New York.